Balamurali K. Ambati, MD, PhD, is an ophthalmologist at Pacific Clear Vision Institute, and a Research Professor in the Department of Bioengineering at the Knight Campus. He is a clinician-scientist, conducting research in drug delivery, ocular angiogenesis, and has co-founded iVeena, a startup focused on developing an eyedrop for corneal strengthening and an implant for drop-free cataract surgery. Dr. Ambati completed his residency at Harvard University and fellowship at Duke University. He has been in practice for 17 years as a cataract, cornea, and refractive surgeon. He was Director of Cornea at Medical College of Georgia for five years and most recently was professor and director of cornea research at the University of Utah. He has performed thousands of cataract surgeries, LASIK, and other vision correction procedures. His expertise includes cataract surgery, advanced lens implants, laser cataract surgery, all-laser LASIK, cornea transplants, Intacs, ICLs, iris repair, and other cornea procedures. Having graduated at the age of 17 from Mount Sinai School of Medicine as the world’s youngest doctor, he was cited in 2015 as the No. 1 eye surgeon in a top 40 under 40 global competition and made the Top 100 Power List of Ophthalmology by The Ophthalmologist magazine.

Dr. Ambati has been recognized for his teaching excellence with a University of Utah Resident Research Mentor Award and the Gold Humanism Award. He served as an instructor at the Harvard Cataract Course. His commitment to community and overseas service is strong. He has conducted free eye screenings in New York, Georgia, and Utah. He also served as a volunteer eye surgeon with ORBIS’ Flying Eye Hospital, SightLife, Sight for the Sightless, and Help Mercy International in Ghana, Zambia, India, Panama, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia.